Warfare in News

Posted on Thursday 19th September

This weekend, 22nd September, sees the 70th anniversary of Operation Source, the attack by midget submarines on the pride of the German fleet, the battleship Tirpitz, lying in her heavily fortified lair deep in a Norwegian fjord.

To mark the occasion, there will be a commemoration ceremony at Kylesku, Sutherland (the cairn is found on the north side of Kylesku Bridge) on Sunday, 22 September at 11.00am. This was where the midget submarines left from on 11 September 1943 as they set out on operation. Supported by the local communities and the Royal Navy, the short service will include readings from the book Midget Submarine Commander - The Life of Godfrey Place VC.

The author of Midget Submarine Commander, Paul Watkins, will be speaking about his book and the life of Godfrey Place VC at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum on the evening of Thursday, 19 September as part of the museum's series of fundraising talks. He will also be speaking at the Chatham Naval Officers Association on 4 October and Sherborne Literary Festival on 18 October.

Further Reading

Only £19.99

Midget Submarine Commander

(Hardback - 244 pages)
by Paul Watkins

Of all the acts of gallantry in World War II few were as audacious as the attack by midget submarines on the pride of the German fleet, the battleship Tirpitz, lying in her heavily fortified lair deep in a Norwegian fjord. Lieutenant Godfrey Place was in command of submarine X7 in September 1943 and travelled over 1000 miles, negotiating minefields and anti-submarine nets to place four tons of high explosive accurately under the hull of… Read more...

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Dates in History

WWI Spring Offensive - The Kaiser's Battle

21st March 1918

At 9.30am on 21st March 1918, the last great battle of the First World War commenced when three German armies struck a massive blow against the weak divisions of the British Third and Fifth Armies. It was the first day of what the Germans called the Kaiserschlacht ('the Kaiser's Battle'), the series of attacks that were intended to break the deadlock on the Western Front, knock the British Army out of the war, and finally bring victory to Germany. In the event the actual cost of the gamble was so heavy that once the assault faltered, it remained for the Allies to push the exhausted German armies back and the War was at last over.

Further Reading

At 9.30am on 21 March 1918, the last great battle of the First World War commenced when three German armies struck a massive blow against the weak divisions of the British Third and Fifth Armies. It was the first day of what the Germans called the Kaiserschlacht (‘the Kaiser’s Battle’),… Read more at Pen & Sword...